INFLUENZA. 241 



It is always a good sign when the mouth resumes its natural moist 

 feel, and its membrane regains its natural pale red colour instead of 

 being brown or yellowish brown. 



484. Fatal terminations of Complications. 



Influenza may terminate fatally by affecting some one or other organ 

 principally, or by general affection of nearly all the internal organs. 

 Sometimes the lungs and pleurae bear the brunt of the disease, and then 

 we have breaking up of these structures. Sometimes the liver is greatly 

 diseased, or the spleen. At other times the bowels only are affected, 

 and their lining membrane is found of a deep mulberry colour in parts, 

 and almost in a state of gangrene in other parts, with a blush of inflam- 

 mation varying in intensity through the whole canal. Thus in some 

 cases, which appear to be going on favorably as regards the state of the 

 pulse and respirations, the animal suddenly becomes worse and sinks, to 

 the great surprise and mortification of the practitioner. 



485. General Treatment. 



The treatment has been described along with the various phases of 

 the symptoms and complications. It has to be borne in mind that it is 

 a disease running a regular course. The great aim however must be to 

 support the patient through the disease, and enable nature to get rid of 

 the morbid material engendered in the blood. 



Good nursing is the primary requisite. The details of the manage- 

 ment included under this head have been already explained in Chapter 15. 



The medical treatment consists mainly in the absence of drastic purga- 

 tives and strong sedatives. 



As the disease abates, the debility, which supervenes, will require 

 the most careful nursing, and if the appetite is capricious some mild 

 tonics may be administered. 



In prescribing for the various phases of this disease the Author would 

 observe that the medicinal treatment is suggested for the purpose of 

 counteracting certain symptoms, and should be employed with discrimi- 

 nation. In very many cases more harm than good is done by pouring 

 medicines down horses' throats with the view of checking a disease which 

 nature intends should run a certain course. 



486. After-effects. 



During recovery from Influenza an eruption generally appears on the 

 skin, which may be regarded as precursor of recovery. In chronic cases 

 the cuticle desquamates and leaves as many bare spots as there were 

 lumps, but more often the lumps disappear spontaneously in a short 

 time. No treatment is needed. 



Rheumatism is an occasional after-result, as are also roaring, whistling, 

 and chronic cough. Paralysis from the effect of serum effused round the 

 spinal cord, or vertigo from serum effused into the ventricles of the 

 brain, are also found as results of the oedematous swellings ; but these 

 latter symptoms generally pass off as strength is regained. 



16 



